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Topic: Training Your 2yo's (Read 649 times)

I'm curious how people handle their new 2 year olds of the year. I typically ship the most mature in March and train until they can race in April, but I saw someone mention they've already started sending their more mature 2yo's for training. Does anyone see any improvement between training for 3 months vs. one? Any other strategies? Mostly just curious, as I find 2yo's to be the most fickle bunch to work with.

Height does play into my plans, as does whether they are likely to be jumpers. 14.2h is the minimum height I'll ship and start training. 14.3h I'll race. If they're bred to jump, they tend to stay home until November of their 2yo season. I do have a couple sub-14h late-spring/early-summer babies who are still hanging out at the farm.

I tend to start with the ''early birthdays'' - Jan-Apr- doing some light training in late Feb/early March, provided they're at or close to their expected height range. It tends to be really light training to avoid injury. I'm quite lenient with my 2yos - if they don't show much in their first two or three runs, they get to go home and relax.

I do before they race but I start training once they are and inch short of minimum height. I keep training very light until the last part of the year when they are more mature.If they don't do well on their first couple of outings they come back home for a long rest and try again in the autumn. If parents are late maturers I may wait till the following year. 2yo results always seem rather erratic to me

Thanks everyone! It's interesting to see how everyone approaches their 2yo's. I've decided to start training those who are at their minimum height or greater, and born last Jan/Feb. Of course one goes and bows a tendon on a 1/2 mile walk first time out so she'll be a fall started, haha.